30/8
Day 48 - Albert Tognolini Rest Area to Karijini National Park (73km/1hr)

We enjoyed watching the sunrise, Rog did some work on the car and the kids went and chatted to the French backpackers.

We left the rest area at 9:30am for our short drive to Karijini National Park which is the 2nd largest park in WA.

We went to the visitor information centre to purchase our 4 week national park pass and then we checked into our campsite at Dales Campground (we are at Kangaroo site 54).

We had an early lunch and then hit the rusty red dirt road to Hancock Gorge which is the hardest gorge in the national park being a grade 5 walk. There were stairs and 2 ladders down then we all took our shoes off to walk through the water crossing which was about thigh high. Next was another water crossing and this time it was neck high so i changed into my swimmers and left my bag on the rock ledge while Rog and the kids decided to clamber over the rock ledges I slipped over the slimey rocks then swam through the water crossing instead (which is what is recommended now)

We arrived at the Amphitheatre but continued on through the spider walk. The boys walked through a very small gap between 2 cliffs with water running below and climbing rocks with a hand and foot on each side while Bronte & I walked through the water (which again is what they recommend now). We were rewarded with making it to the end of the walk and another pretty pool called Kermits Pool.

We all enjoyed swimming here (although it’s a bit cold) and we had it to ourselves for a short time which was even better.

We then had to walk and swim back out again and we were lucky enough to run into the French backpackers so they kept the kids entertained.

Next stop was lower Weano gorge (another grade 5 walk) where you had to walk downstream then use both hands on the handrail as you go over slippery rocks and down stairs into Handrail Pool. Rog and the kids were very brave and went swimming but I didn’t as the water was so cold.

Next we went to Junction Pool Lookout and Oxer Lookout which is the junction of 4 major gorges in the National Park - the Red gorge, Weano gorge, Hancock gorge & Joffre gorge.

By this time it was getting late and we were all tired so we took the longer road home via the bitumen and it was a much more enjoyable drive.

It was a quick dinner and bed.